Pamper your pets in Mississauga

We all know that Mississauga has every amenity under the sun available, but did you know that the city also has some fabulous services for the other members of your family….your pets? With groomers, obedience training, pet sitting services, specialty food stores and leash-free parks, you can rest easy knowing that spoiling your pets will be a breeze in Mississauga.

Doggie self-service bathing stations are on the boom, letting pet owners take care of the messy business of bathing their pets outside of the home. In Mississauga, there’s Second Tub Dog Wash and Supplies on Eglington Avenue West and Hot Hounds Outfitters and Spa on Queen Street South.

When it comes to food, toys, accessories, apparel and beds, PetValu is a handy one-stop shop for everything pet related. With more than 10 locations in Mississauga (find them at www.petvalu.com/store-locator) stocking up on everything you need for your dogs, cats, fish, small reptiles and birds couldn’t be easier. Pet Smart also offers all the supplies you’ll need, plus grooming, doggie day camps, training services and more – find locations online at www.petsmart.com.

After a long winter, your dogs will be ready to run! Head to any one of Mississauga’s leash-free parks for an afternoon of fun. Located north of Erin Mills Shopping Centre, Quenippenon Park is the newest park in the volunteer-driven ‘Leash-Free Mississauga’ – a not-for-profit organization and group of community volunteers whose mission it is to provide safe friendly leash-free areas where owners and their dogs can exercise and socialize. More commonly referred to as “Q Park”, you’ll find two separate, fenced-in areas – one for small dogs, one for large. Totoredaca Park, located just south of the 407 on Meadowvale Boulevard, features a 3.5-acre secure leash-free zone, a splash pool for the summer months and a handy wash-up station in the parking lot. Jack Darling Park, Lakeside Park, Garnetwood Park and Etobicoke Valley Park also include leash-free zones. Visit www.leashfreemississauga.ca for more information.

And for those times when you absolutely must part, there are a number of reputable boarding facilities in the city, including Best Boarding Kennels on Derry Road West and Kamp K-9 on Rangeview Road. Pet sitting services, offered at an hourly rate, are also available. Visit www.care.com and search under Pet Care.